Physical Geography: Russia

Bye Bye Soviet Union In 1991, the Soviet Union broke up into 15 independent republics. Russia is by far the Largest

A Vast and Varied Land Russia is the world’s largest country. – Covers 6.6 million square miles – Stretches across both Europe and Asia

Mountains and Plateaus Ural Mountains – Mark the boundary between European and Asian Russia Caucasus Mountains – Contains Russia highest point, Mt. Elbrus (and extinct volcano) Central Siberian Plateau – Contains the Sayan Mts. And Yablonovyy Mts. That mark the border between Russia and China

Plains Areas North European Plain – Makes up most of European Russian The northern part of the plain is flat and drains poorly – Results in many swamps and lakes The Southern part contains navigable waterways and a rich black soil known as Chernozem – About 75% of Russia’s population lives in the North European Plain West Siberian Plain – Ural Mts. Divide NEP and WSP – Poorly drains Result: Swamps and Marshes

Coasts, Seas, and Lakes Russia has the longest continuous coastline of any country in the world. – Stretching 23,400 miles – Because of extremely cold weather, most ports are not accessible year-round because of ice Black Sea – Russia’s Fishing Industry has thrived here Caspian Sea – Largest inland body of water in the world – Not a sea because it does not connect to the ocean Lake Baikal – Third largest lake in Asia – Deepest freshwater lake in the world – Estimated to contain about 20% of earth’s fresh water

Rivers Volga River – 4 th largest river in Russia – Called Matushka Volga or “Mother Volga” – Gives Russia a water route to northern Europe Hydroelectric Power – power generated from falling water – 2/3 of Russia’s water traffic travels along the Volga Siberian Rivers – Rivers flow south to north – Water melts earlier in the south, causing water to dam up at the frozen north Results in swamps and marshes – Amur River Marks border between Russia and China for about 1,000 miles Warmer than most of Siberia – Siberia’s main-food producing Area

Natural Resources Minerals – Petroleum deposits, dry natural gas, coal, nickel, aluminum, gemstone, platinum group metal, sulfur, and tungsten. World’s largest nickel producer Soil and Forest Land – Only 10% of Russian land is farmable Permafrost – permanently frozen layer of soil – Black Earth Belt – Contain most of Russia’s farming Extends from Ukraine to southwestern siberia – 1/5 of earth’s remaining forest lie in Russia 75% in eastern Russia Diminishing faster than Amazon

Climate and Vegetation: Russia

It’s Cold Eastern Siberia – Contains Russia’s coldest winters – Verkhoyansk the “cold pole of the world” Temperatures as low as -90°F

High Latitude Climates Russia’s high latitude results in cold winters and short summers Tundra – A vast treeless plain, where temperatures average below freezing – Located in Northern Russia bordering the Artic Ocean – Has weeks of no sun in the winter, and continuous sun in the summer Subarctic – Dominate climate in Russia – Taiga – the coniferous forests extending across much of subarctic North America and Eurasia, bordered by tundra to the north and steppe to the south Russian taiga is world’s largest coniferous forest

Mid-latitude Climates Humid Continental – Milder (and more livable) weather than Tundra and Subarctic Moscow: 9°F - 21°F (January) 56°F - 75°F (July) – Makes up majority of Russia’s North European Plain – Contains mixed forest and fertile land Steppe – Wide, grassy plains of Eurasia – Contains fertile chernozem soil